Help with massive yellowing Areca Palm

[Juan]

Dear all

Since last week I noticed that entire leaves of my areca palm are turning yellow. This happened after I added some fertilizer per indication but the yellowing does not seem to be "fertilizer burn" In addition to the previous problem I have been having of the yellow and brown tips. I have the plant next to a window, try to moisturise the leaves everyday or every other day as it is not very humid, I water every 10 days or so when the soil gets dry.

I got the plant 6 months ago, and this is the first time this has happened.

I upload some pictures with the various problems. Thanks for your help.

 

[oneeye]

Areca Palm's are nutrient sensitive and use only tiny amounts of nutrient. Almost no nutrients at all, and can live in a container for years without feeding. Giving them liquid fertilizer at the wrong time can burn the tips easily and turn the leaves yellow. You have two choices at this time, you can try to flush the excess salts out of the soil, by watering using two times the amount of water, or you can take a chance on the plant working with the conditions it has and hope you just lose a few yellow leaves . Good luck

 

[cpp gardener]

If that’s the first yellow leaf in 6 months you’re doing great, for an Areca palm. They hate being indoors.

I can see some spider mite damage but that’s to be expected. You can treat with a systemic insecticide or try washing them off with water- this will take numerous baths. This isn’t such a bad thing since they are one of the few palms that likes to be moist most of the time.

It also prefers very high light intensity so it needs to be as close to the window as possible, this is what makes the moist soil tolerable for the plant. More light = more water; less light =less water.

Spraying with water to raise humidity is pointless unless you do it 6 or 10 times a day. To effectively raise the humidity you need a humidifier right next to the plant.

Overall you’re doing pretty well with a moderately difficult plant.

Happy plant parenting